Honor Flight takes veterans to Washington D.C. to thank them for their service. Each plane ride costs about $55,000. The proceeds from the car will pay for about half of a flight. The organization will even get a couple thousand dollars extra out of the sale because of auction expenses the winner had to pay, and the new owner of the car said he was happy to help such a great cause.

“Other than it being a really really nice car, it always feels good to have an opportunity to give back to the community and give back to people who gave us so much,” Artie Siegle, who bought the car, said. Siegle said he buys and sells classic cars for a living. He said he wants to continue with the charitable spirit and donate the car in another auction. He said he will most likely donate those funds to a children’s hospital in South Florida where he lives.

Jerry Rathburn bought the 1964 Chevy Impala SS not for himself, but specifically to fund sending dozens of World War II vets to the capital. The auction estimated the car would send for about $25,000.

Honor Flight organizers said the funds from the car auction will help them reach their goal of having four Honor Flights in 2015. That’s the first time they will have four flights in one year.

“It’s really gratifying when you’re in Washington, and a couple dozen people will come up to the vets and say thank you for serving our country,” Honor Flight board member, Dennis Covert said.

The next Honor Flight is October 1. This will be the organization’s 14th Honor Flight.

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